"The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention."
"The very idea of a bird is a symbol and a suggestion to the poet. A bird seems to be at the top of the scale, so vehement and intense his life. . . . The beautiful vagabonds, endowed with every grace, masters of all climes, and knowing no bounds - how many human aspirations are realised in their free, holiday-lives - and how many suggestions to the poet in their flight and song!"
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Source: John Burroughs (1904). “The Writings of John Burroughs: Birds and poets, with other papers”
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"A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else."
"For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice - no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service."
"How beautiful the leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days."
"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see."
"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order."